City Watertown, New York Media Watertown Daily Times Owner(s) Top Shelf Hockey League Federal Hockey League Playoff championships 1 (2014–15) | Colors Black, blue, white 2013–2014 Watertown Privateers Arena Duffy Fairgrounds Head coach Phil Esposito Date founded 2010 | |
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Home arena Watertown Municipal Arena 2010–2013 1000 Islands Privateers Location Watertown, New York, United States | ||
The Watertown Wolves are a minor professional hockey team in the Federal Hockey League based in Watertown, New York and play home games at the Watertown Municipal Arena. The team was on hiatus during the 2015–16 season while renovations at the Watertown Municipal Arena were completed and then returned for the 2016–17 season. With a history dating to 2010, the Wolves are the oldest team in the FHL.
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Original ownership
The team was originally known as the 1000 Islands Privateers and played at the Bonnie Castle Recreation Center in Alexandria Bay for two seasons before moving to Watertown for the 2012–13 season. On March 1, 2013, Privateers owner and president Nicole Kirnan served as the team’s coach for the first time, making her the first woman to head coach a professional hockey team in the United States.
Before the 2013–14 season, the Privateers revamped their identity by changing their name to the Watertown Privateers and redesigning their jerseys and logo. Brad Zangs was brought in as new head coach.
New ownership
Watertown's FHL team returned for the 2014–15 with new ownership after the previous owners decided not to continue. The team rechristened itself as the Watertown Wolves during this season.
In their first season, the Wolves won both the regular season and the playoffs championship. First-year head coach, Brent Clarke, would be named FHL Coach of the Year but would resign after the season.
The Wolves suspended operations for the 2015–16 season to allow for the Watertown Municipal Arena to be renovated; the team attempted to find another arena in Northern New York to use but were unable to find an available venue. The renovations were completed on schedule and the Wolves signed a new one-year lease agreement with the city of Watertown in order to return after one season off.
The Wolves returned for the 2016–17 season and hired Phil Esposito as head coach.